Dawn // Home — Goat Curry Gallery

HOME

What does ‘home’ mean to you? Is it a physical structure? Is it a location? Or maybe you associate it with a person or a feeling... this is something I've been thinking about a lot recently. Where is ‘home’, what makes you feel at ‘home'?

This particular home in Treasure Beach will always play a huge part in my journey in Jamaica. This is where I learnt to pick ackee from the tree and cook it on an open fire. This is where I decided that I wasn’t taking my return ticket and that I would stay in Jamaica and get my citizenship.

Thank you Dawn for letting me live in your original ‘home’ when I didn't have one.

Story gallery

Eighty // Crochet

Eighty taught herself to crochet at ten years old. As a young girl she slowly built up a collection of works which eventually allowed her to leave home at fourteen and provide for herself. Eighty crochets swimwear, tops, shorts, hat and skirts using colourful cottons. Over the years Eighty has created many outfits for her children, always experimenting with different styles. She prides herself on not following patterns but instead coming up with her own designs.

Eighty creates from home and sells mostly through word-of-mouth.

Bamboo King // Studio Visit

Bamboo King created his first animal head in the early 2000s, inspired by a bamboo root he dug up while collecting materials for a building project. In 2015 Bamboo King moved to a property along the beach in Annotto Bay where he established a sculpture garden using found objects collected from the beach. Stacked coal castles decorate the perimeter around his home accompanied by drift wood and animal head rods.

Bamboo King’s practice involves working with the natural forms and contours of materials so that they form a union and fit together willingly.

Merlene // To Survive

Merlene lived and worked for most of her life in Kingston but has now moved back to Oracabessa, St Mary. Everyday she visits her mother (who she calls grandmother), caring for her and making sure she’s okay.

Hard work is crucial for survival, Merlene explained to me. When you work hard you’re able to only support yourself, but also your family. This is something Merlene tells her children and grandchildren often.

Georgie // Lignum Vitae

Born in the fishing community of Treasure Beach, Georgie captained boats for most of his life. An injury to his back prevents him from going out to sea, and now Georgie now relies on his carvings to survive.

Although Georgie carves a variety of objects, his life as a fisherman continues to inform a lot of his work. Georgie carves Jamaican canoes, which resemble the traditional dug-out canoes his father used to build by hand from cotton trees. This is a practice passed down from Jamaica’s indigenous Tainos.

Georgie works with lignum vitae (wood of life), a high quality wood native to Jamaica. Nicknamed 'iron wood’ it is a labour intensive building material which requires a lot of time and energy to shape. With limited resources and tools, Georgie continues to use a completely hand-based practice of carving and whittling.

Gabrielle // Roots

While exploring Constant Spring Arcade in Halfway Tree, I stumbled across Gabrielle at her workshop. A born entrepreneur, a self-taught fashion designer with a mission, ambitious, hardworking, business savvy with a contagious smile. The following day I came back with my camera. We spoke about life, work, family expectations and the importance of positive African consciousness within Jamaica.

Thank you Gabrielle for your pure light and positive energy, you’re truly inspiring!

Check out Quaint by GSC to get your hands on some of Gabrielle’s work.

Bobo // Working With Water

Lottery scamming is an ugly business which happens in Jamaica. This is an illegal practice which bleeds innocent victims bank accounts while simultaneously causing gang wars and way too many violent deaths. In 2018 lottery scamming brought a state of emergency on different locations across the country.

There is a strong and powerful energy which pulsates through the rivers of Jamaica. A calming, healing and nurturing energy. An energy that can be harnessed. An energy that is believed to bring protection, guidance and good luck. This is an energy which needs to be approached with care. It requires the wisdom and guidances of our elders and ancestors. However this is also an energy which has interestingly been channeled into the fraudulent practice of lottery scamming. Misused, manipulated and abused.

Alexis // Strong Women

For Alexis, it's the strong women in her life who have guided her, taught her and kept her aiming high.

Take the time to give thanks for the beautiful role models in your life. The women and men who push you, support you and encourage you all the way. These are the people who influence and inspire, these are the people that set us on our track and watch us fly. Take time to be a supportive role model, take time to nurture and uplift the people around you.

Shubba // Barber

Just off Parade, in Downtown Kingston, you’ll find Shabba the barber doing what he does best. An artist when it comes to the shears he knows his craft like the back of his hand.

The confidence, respect and pride that people take in their craft is a Jamaican characteristic which I have fallen in love with. There is such a beautiful sense of dignity and self-worth when it comes to talking about your skill-base and profession. In other societies this might be seen as being egotistic or conceited… But to me it’s refreshing and also very important. If you don’t believe in yourself, value your own work, then who else will? Confidence inspires confidence and the more you appreciate your achievements and skills, the more

If you’re in the neighbourhood and looking for a trim give Shabba a shout!

real talk